Probe committee on street-lighting functioning starts work

The five-member committee, formed to probe the neglect of work by streetlight contractors, would visit and examine the sites before starting penalty proceedings against the errant contractors. Chairperson of the committee and senior deputy mayor, Kamaljit Singh Bhatia has said.

"A meeting of the committee has been held. All aspects of complaints levelled by Jagdish Raj were minutely discussed and it was decided to visit the sites before finalising our opinion. We have received complaints from residents too, alleging that the contractors had used sub-standard material. All such complaints will be minutely looked into," Bhatia said.

Leader of opposition in the house Jagdish Raja had raised the issues of non-functioning of streetlights and use of sub-standard material.

"I had personally lodged several complaints regarding non-functioning of streetlight points in the wards 36, represented by my wife Anita Raj, and ward 37, my ward. Previously, even the electricity poles were also not properly painted. However, after I raised the issue in the house, contractors painted the poles," said Jagdish Raj.

"It is surprising that the non-performers in the previous tenders, Inderjit Bajaj and Luthra Enterprises have once again been awarded contracts. Bajaj has been assigned two zones (Partap Bagh and Company Bagh zones) down from the three previously; Luthra, who had four zones, had been given three (Basti Sheikh, Lal Rattan and Model Town zones). There is a third player now Jagdish Electricals and he has been given two zones --- Dada Colony and Industrial Area," Raja said.

"I have compiled a document listing the penalties that can be imposed on the contractors, after going studying the contract minutely," Raja said.

He added that due to open electricity connections from the poles, several people had even lost their lives and they should be heavily fined.

On being queried on the slow pace of inquiry into the matter, senior deputy mayor Bhatia said: "Due to duties assigned to me in the Delhi Gurdwara elections, the inspection was delayed. However, within a week the facts would be thoroughly probed and responsibility fixed. Those found negligent will be punished severely."

Deputy mayor Arvinder Kaur Oberoi, Congress councillor and leader of opposition Jagdish Raj, Ram Gopal and Bhagwant Rai Parbhakar, both BJP councillors are the other members of the five-member committee.